Ruling the CEO Book 2

A smile tugged at my lips as I watched Kieran’s chest rise and fall, his eyelids fluttering in sleep. I wondered what he was dreaming about.

Feeling bold, I laid my hand on his firm chest, letting my fingers wander up and down his bare skin.

He had a knack for waking me up with sex. Maybe this time, I could return the favor.

My fingers ventured lower. I kept my gaze on his handsome face as I wrapped my hand around his thick length, causing him to twitch in his sleep.

I half expected his eyes to snap open, but apart from a soft groan, he stayed asleep. He must have been worn out from work, or maybe I wore him out last night.

The thought made me blush and my sex throb.

I forced myself to concentrate on pleasuring my husband, continuing to stroke him, coaxing another groan from him. I tried not to laugh—I didn’t want to wake him up.

Okay, maybe I wasn’t being entirely truthful. I wanted him to wake up because I was used to seeing his eyes first thing in the morning.

Kieran always woke me up, so when I woke up before him today, I couldn’t help but want him to open his eyes so I could see them and start my day.

Why wasn’t he waking up? He always woke up before me. Why not today?

I knew he was tired from last night, but that didn’t mean I should start my day without seeing the love in his eyes.

I was so caught up in my internal tantrum that I didn’t notice when he woke up and flipped me onto my back, hovering over me.

Finally, he opened his eyes.

“Naughty girl. You shouldn’t tease a man when he’s sleeping,” he murmured, nuzzling my neck with his nose, sending pleasure straight to my core.

“If I don’t, the man won’t wake up and I can’t start my day. And considering I have a beautiful daughter with the man, I really need to get up and check on her,” I replied.

A moan slipped out when Kieran pinched my nipple and kissed my neck.

“I’m sure our daughter can wait. But I can’t start my day without having you,” he said, lining up his length at my entrance and thrusting into me.

He held still for a moment, letting me adjust to him, before pulling out and plunging back in.

Kieran set a hard, steady rhythm that pushed me toward climax. His lips roamed my body, igniting every nerve.

I moaned and clawed at his arms, but he quickly captured my wrists and pinned them above my head.

“Hands always on the side,” he murmured, kissing me deeply just as my orgasm hit, making me tremble under him.

Kieran reached his climax soon after, freezing on top of me as he came inside me. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, to hold him close, but he kept my arms pinned.

No matter how much time passed, Kieran never let me take control during sex. And I really wanted to…at least once.

Once we both came back down to earth, Kieran gave me a lazy smile and kissed the tip of my nose.

“Good morning, wife,” he greeted, his brown eyes meeting mine.

“You’re late, husband,” I tried to scold him, but I was still basking in the afterglow of our lovemaking.

“How can you expect me to wake up when I’m having the most beautiful dream?”

“Oh?” My eyebrows shot up. “And what were you dreaming about?”

He traced my face with his finger. “A beautiful woman. An extremely beautiful woman.”

My smile faded, and my eyes narrowed. “Who?”

“Her name is a secret. But I just didn’t want to wake up; she was so beautiful,” he repeated.

My irritation turned to fear. All the insecurities I’d buried deep inside resurfaced, rearing their ugly heads.

Kieran was dreaming about a beautiful woman. Was I not beautiful? According to him, the woman was so beautiful he didn’t want to wake up, which meant he didn’t want to see me.

Was I ugly?

I could feel the tears welling up as memories of my stepfamily flooded back, chilling my blood as I tried to push them away.

But their words wouldn’t fade. Even in death, they wouldn’t leave me alone.

Even though Kieran was smiling at me, I wasn’t really seeing him.

In my mind, I was back in the past, where my stepfather and stepbrother mocked me, telling me how ugly I was.

“Oh, no. No, no, no, Strawberry. You do not get to leave me,” I heard Kieran’s voice, but it sounded distant.

Despite the nightmare I was living, I clung to his voice, using it to pull myself back to the present.

I blinked a few times, making sure I was back in the present. Kieran was looking at me with concern, his hand on my cheek.

“Hey. Are you back with me now, sweetheart?” he asked softly. I nodded, embarrassed that I was still affected by people who were no longer in my life.

“Sorry. I was just thinking about something stupid,” I tried to sit up, but he wouldn’t let me go. “Let me go. I need to check on Rose.”

“Stay until I say you can leave,” he said, and I felt a surge of annoyance.

“Go back to sleep and dream about your mystery woman. I’ve got a daughter to look after,” I tried to push him away, but he was too strong.

His playful grin returned.

“But I never told you who the woman was.”

“I don’t care. You’re the one who can’t stop thinking about her. Not me.”

He laughed. “You sound jealous.”

“Any woman would be jealous if her husband was dreaming about another woman!” I shot back, trying to ignore the ache in my heart.

My stepfather was right; I’d never be enough for anyone. I’d never be pretty enough or smart enough. And here was the proof.

He laughed again, and I wished I could throw something at him. He was so thoughtless.

He didn’t care that I was upset. He didn’t realize that his dreams about another woman made me feel insecure.

“My sweet girl,” he chuckled, shifting to the side and pulling me to him. I had no choice but to rest my head on his shoulder.

“Why would you think I’d dream about any woman but you?”

My heart calmed a bit, but I shrugged. “I don’t know. You wouldn’t tell me her name and kept saying she was incredibly beautiful.”

“I was just teasing you. I was dreaming about you, so of course I didn’t want to wake up. But now I see that waking up to you is just as good.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “It wasn’t good before?”

He laughed, still amused. “Every day with you has been good, Strawberry. And my life will be good as long as you’re in it.”

“So…” I drew out the word. “If I left you, then life wouldn’t be good?”

His demeanor changed instantly. His arms tightened around me and his brown eyes darkened.

“Don’t ever say something like that again, Strawberry. I mean it.”

Fear gripped my heart and I nodded quickly. “I’m sorry.”

He kissed my forehead. “You’re my everything, Jenny. I can’t and don’t want to live a single day without you. Do you understand?”

I smiled and nodded. “I love you, Kieran.”

“I love you, Jen. And only you. Never forget that,” he said before pulling me into a passionate kiss that made me an hour late for my daughter.

“Mommy!” Rose cried, reaching out for me. I picked her up and kissed her chubby cheek.

“Good morning, Princess. Did you sleep well?” I asked, and she nodded, a big toothy grin on her face.

“Yeah!”

“Great! Let’s get you cleaned up and then we’ll have breakfast,” I said, leading her to the bathroom where a bubble bath was already waiting.

Rose always loved bath time, which was a relief.

I was always worried that my kids might hate baths and I’d have to force them, which could lead to tantrums.

I didn’t want my children to be unhappy. I wanted to do everything I could to keep them content.

After her bath, I dressed her in a new outfit. Kieran was very particular about Rose’s clothes.

He didn’t want her to wear the same outfit twice, so he made sure her wardrobe was updated every month. All her old clothes, shoes, and accessories were replaced with new ones.

We often argued about this. I didn’t see the problem with her wearing an outfit more than once, but he wouldn’t budge.

And no matter how much I told him it was a waste of money, he wouldn’t listen.

It would be one thing if it was just Rose he was concerned about, but no. He treated me the same way. My wardrobe was updated every month, just like our daughter’s.

He wouldn’t let me wear the same clothes twice. One day, he told me that if I wanted to throw away my dresses after wearing them, I could, and he would replace them with new ones.

And every time I thought about arguing with him, he reminded me that as a public figure, he couldn’t have his wife and daughter seen wearing old clothes.

That always shut me up, as I didn’t want to embarrass him.

“Hungry?” I asked her.

She nodded. “Yes, Mommy.” She paused. “Is Daddy gone?”

“Not yet.” I shook my head. “He’s waiting for you. He wants to have breakfast with you today.”

Rose’s face lit up as we went to the dining table where Kieran was already sitting and the maid was pouring tea for him. He smiled when he saw us approach and stood up to take Rose in his arms.

“Good morning, Sunshine!” He kissed her cheek. “You look as pretty as ever!”

“Daddy!” Rose cried and wrapped her little arms around his neck. I knew she wouldn’t let go now. Kieran would have to let her sit on his lap and feed her breakfast.

Just as I expected, breakfast passed with Rose sitting in her father’s lap and eating.

Despite the fact that Kieran was running late and his phone kept ringing, he ignored everything and just focused on his daughter.

As I watched the two of them, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like for Rose to have a sibling. She was already two, so maybe it was time to have another child.

Yes, I’d ask him. But what if he didn’t want another child? I was more than happy with Rose, but I didn’t want her to grow up feeling lonely like I had.

And even though I had a stepbrother, it just made me feel even more lonely.

“Okay, sweetheart, be good. I’ll be back tonight,” Kieran said, giving Rose a peck on the cheek before handing her over to me. She started to squirm, so I set her down and gave Kieran a kiss.

“Have a good day. Call me when you get there,” I told him.

“I will. Stay safe, okay? And keep this little one out of trouble,” he replied as I helped him into his suit jacket.

I laughed and nodded. “I will. And Kieran, if you can, try to come home a bit early. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“Is it serious?” he asked, his eyes filled with worry.

“Sort of.” I shrugged. “But it’s not urgent. So don’t feel like you have to rush home.”

“Are you kidding? I’ve been looking for an excuse to come home early to you and Rose. And you, my amazing wife, just gave me the perfect reason to tell my dad and brother.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back before you know it.” He gave my forehead a quick kiss and headed out the door, where his driver was waiting to take him to work.

“I love you,” I said, waiting for Rose to echo me.

“Love you, Daddy!” she practically shouted, making Kieran’s smile grow even wider.

“I love you, my beautiful wife.” He kissed me before turning to Rose. “I love you, Princess.”

Rose wrapped her tiny hand around my finger and we both watched as Kieran walked out the door, leaving us to enjoy our day together.

But I knew he’d be back before long, and then I could ask him about having another baby.

Just a few more hours.